Scaffold frame



Feb. 11, 1964 CAMERON 3,120,941

SCAFFOLD FRAME Filed NOV. 18, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 so El 14 I l L4 p.J 16 I:

37 37 I I I4 h -T l; 1' i i t] 10 22 2 H l I 23 INVENTOR. I g ROBERT E.CAMERON I BY 16 1. MM aMd PomM I I F/G. 5. x I"20 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,120,941 SCAFFGLD FRAME Robert E. Cameron, Creve Coeur, Mm, assrgnor to Automatic Devices, Incorporated, Maryland Heights, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 18, 196i), Ser. No. 70,163 8 Claims. (Cl. 248354) This invention relates generally to improvements in a shoring system, and more particularly to a system utilizing sectional steel scaffolding and a cooperating scaffold truss.

Heretofore sectional steel scaffolding has been thought of only in terms of vertical shoring to hold up or to work in conjunction with wood 'formwork. This formwork consists of T heads, wood headers, ledgers, various wood stubs and other items designed to support the main deck of plywood and joists. All of this vertical lumber and short length horizontal lumber is subject to hlgh waste from job to job, particularly where the length of the piece is an ever-changing factor.

It is a major objective of the present invention to provide a scaffold-truss shoring system that is designed to eliminate or substantially reduce vertical lumber under spandrel and interior beams, and short length wood members used horizontally. On slab areas the scaffold-truss system replaces ledger or girder members and supports the deck at the joist level. It combines vertical and horizontal shoring requirements in a single integrated system. Needless to say, the speed of assembly and the substantial economy afforded by the system is most satisfying. The cutting, fitting and wedging operation heretofore required in vertical shoring with sectional scaffolding are supplanted to a large extent and in most cases by simple jack screw adjustment.

Sectional steel scaffold frames and jack screws provide for precise heighth adjustment in all shoring applications, and provide the basic means for accomplishing the forming and carpentry work at a considerable heighth above the floor. In order to have a completely integrated system, it is only necessary to provide a horizontal scaffoldtruss.

An important object is to provide a scaffold truss system in which the truss straddles the top scaffold frame bar and provides a load bearing surface for beams equal to the maximum capacity of the scaffold legs.

The particular assembly and structural arrangement of the present scaffold truss system enables all of the bearing load to be carried on the scaffold legs; allows shoring jacks to come through the truss and adjust to girders or ledgers; permits shoring jacks to be mounted and moved laterally along the scaffold truss to the side of any beam carried by the scaffold truss; allows scaffold towers to be connected by the scaffold truss and interconnected to function as a continuous load bearing horizontal ledger member perpendicular to all joist members; and enables the truss to act as a cantilever member under spandrel beams by carrying the spandrel beam load and also by acting as a base for diagonal bracing along the outside of the beam, and by permitting the mounting of shoring jacks to carry the load of the adjacent slab area.

Another important object of the scaffold truss system is to eliminate the use of many various pieces of lumber used in vertical shoring with sectional steel scaffolding. As for example, spandrel beam T heads, short soifit headers, special wood stubs for carrying ledger members, top screw jacks on open slab areas, ledger members on open slab areas and special interior beam wood formwork, all are eliminated.

Other important advantages are realized in that the number of scaffold panels and braces are reduced through more efficient placement of the scaffold towers and by permitting maximum safe loading of each scaffold tower.

An important object of the scaffold-truss shoring system is to reduce the contractors overall cost in rental, lumber and labor.

Another important object is to provide a scaffold-truss shoring system that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and toassemble, efficient in operation, and which is adaptable to a wide variety of jobs.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages or" the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the truss and the means for connecting one end of the truss to the scaffold leg;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, top plan view of one end of the truss;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the truss as seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

PEG. 4 is an end view, partly in cross section, of the scaffold-truss system of shoring an interior beam and slab;

FEG. 5 is an end View of the scaffold-truss system for shoring an interior beam and slab, but illustrating the truss as straddling the scaffold spreader bar;

FIG. 6 is an end View of the scaffold-truss system for shoring a spandrel beam and adjacent slab;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the scaffold-truss system for shoring a slab, the trusses providing a continuous loadbearing horizontal ledger member;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the coupling utilized to interconnect the trusses shown in FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the coupl ng as seen along line 9-3 of FIG. 8.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings and first to FIGS. 13 inclusive, the truss assembly generally indicated at It} will be described. The truss assembly 1d includes a pair of elongate, U-shaped channels 11 and d2 arranged in spaced back-to-back parallel relation to provide a longitudinal slot 13 therebetween. An end flange 14 interconnects each end of the channels 11 and 12. The flanges 14 are disposed so that their upper surfaces are flush with the top side of the channels 11 and 12, and are extended beyond the ends of such channels. That portion of the flange that extends beyond the channel end is provided with an opening 15, the purpose and function of which will be later described.

The scaffold tower with which the truss assembly 10 cooperates in the present shoring system is of conventional sectional type. Each scaffolding section consists of a pair of panels referred to at 16 and 17 interconnected by crossed braces 18 at each side. As is perhaps best seen in FIG. 5, each panel 16 or 17 includes a pair of spaced tubular legs 29 and 21 rigidly interconnected at the top by a spreader bar 22. Usually, a similar spreader bar (not shown) interconnects the bottom or" the legs 20 and 21. A ladder structure 23 is attached to one leg 20 and extends vertically upward between the lowermost spreader bar (not shown) and the top spreader bar 22.

In assembling the scaffold section, the panels 16 and '17 are arranged in spaced parallel relation and interconnected at each side by the crossed braces .18. Of course, the scaffolding sections can be built and added one on top of the other by using the coupling pins 24 shown in PEG. 1. The pins 24 interfit the open top end of the tubular legs 29 and 21 and are held in position by the intermediate pin collar 25. Another panel may be attached to and supported on top of a lower panel by placing the upwardly projecting portion of the pins 24 into the open bottom ends of the upper panel legs.

The scaffold-truss system for shoring an interior beam 26 and adjacent slab 27 is shown in FIG. 4. In this as sembly, a truss extends between the matching legs 20 and 21 of the spaced panels 16 and l7. More particularly, the flanges 14 of each truss 10 seat on top of the legs 20 and 21. Because the flanges 14 extend outwardly beyond the ends of the channels 11 and .12, the channels do not interfere with the top spreader bars 22. The flanges 14 of each truss 10 are secured to the legs by a pair of end jack screws 30 that extend downwardly through the flange openings 15 and into the tubular legs 29 and 21.

Slidably disposed on top of the truss 1ft are a pair of jack screw holders 31 consisting of inverted U-shaped plates. Each of these holders 31 includes a threaded collar adapted to receive a jack screw 32. The jack screws 32 extend downwardly through the longitudinal slot 13 between the channels 11 and 12 constituting the truss 10. These movable jack screws 32 can be selectively positioned at any desired location along the truss 10.

A plurality of support beams 33 are extended across and seat on the trusses 10. These support beams 33 engage the underside of the interior beam 26. Ledgers 34 are extended crosswise of the trusses 10 and seat on the coacting jack screws 30 and 32. These ledges 34 engage and support the joists 35 located under the slab 27 adjacent the interior beam 26.

It will be readily apparent that all of the load supported by the jack screws 32 and the support beams 33 is transmitted directly to the trusses 1t and thence transmitted directly to the supporting panel legs and 21. Of course, the load supported by the jack screws is transmitted directly to the legs. None of such load is supported by any of the spreader bars or other cross frame elements comprising the panels or interconnecting the panels.

Another arrangement of the scatfold truss system for supporting an interior beam 26 and adjacent slab 27 is shown in FIG. 5. In this assembly, the trusses 10 are extended between the legs 2%) and 21 of each of the scaffold section panels 16 and 17. Similar to the arrangement previously described with respect to FIG. 4, the end flanges 14 of each truss 10 seat on top of the legs 26* and 21. A pair of end jack screws 36 extend through the flange openings 15 and extend into the tubular legs 20 and 21. These end jack screws fix the truss in position.

. It will be importantly noted that in positioning the trusses 10, the spreader bar 22 is disposed within the longitudinal slot 13 of its associated truss. The spreader bar 22 does not engage the truss 10 in any load-bearing relationship. Any load transmitted to the truss 10 is transmitted directly to the supporting panel legs 20 and 21.

Movable jack screws such as the jack screws 32 in FIG. 4 cannot be utilized in the arrangement of FIG. 5 because the longitudinal slot 13 of each truss 10 is blocked by the placement of the spreader bar 22. However, a plurality of support beams 37 are extended across and seat on the trusses 10, the support beams 37 engaging the underside of the interior beam 26.

The scaiTold-truss system for supporting a spandrel beam 40 and an adjacent slab 41 is illustrated in FIG. 6. In each scaffolding section, a pair of trusses 10 are extended between the matching legs 20 and 21 of the spaced panels 16 and 17. The trusses 10 are longer than those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and are of the type best shown in FIG. 1. Each of the trusses 10 of FIG. 6 are extended beyond one side of the scafiolding section to provide a cantilever portion 42.

More particularly, each truss 10 of FIG. 6 is inverted and seated on top of the corresponding legs 20 and 21 of the spaced panels. One of the end flanges 14 is secured to one leg 21 of one panel by a connecting pin 24. In this particular truss 10 of FIG. 6, a short plate 43 is secured to the channels 11 and 12, the plate 43 bridging the slot 13. This structure is also shown in FIG. 1. The short plate 43 is located so that it seats on top of the leg 20 of the other scaffolding section panel 16. A connecting pin 24 passed through an opening in the plate 43 and 4 passed into the upper end of tubular leg 26 secures the truss lit to the panel 16.

A pair of movable jack sc ew holders 44 are slidably mounted on top of each of the inverted trusses 1d of FIG. 6. These holders 44 .threadedly receive jack screws 45 and position such jack screws 45 within the longitudinal slot 13 of their associated truss it}. Ledgers 46 are extended across the trusses 1t} and seat on the cooperating jack screws 45, the ledgers supporting the joists 47 that underlie the slab 41.

A plurality of support beams 5i extend across the trusses it) and are located immediately below the spandrel beam 49. The support beams 5% support the load of the spandrel beam on the trusses 10 including the cantilever portions 42. To assist in supporting the spandrel beam 4% a wood brace 51 is secured to the side of the spandrel beam 45} and is secured to the outermost end of each cantilever truss portion 42. Each WOOd brace 51 is located within the longitudinal groove 13 of its associated truss 10 and is secured as by nailing through holes 52.

FIG. 7 illustrates the scaffold-truss system for supporting or shoring a horizontal slab. A pair of scaffold towers 53 are arranged in spaced relationship as shown. Each of these towers 53 includes the scaffold section consisting of spaced panels 16 and 17 interconnected by crossed braces 18. In the left hand scaffold tower 53 of FIG. 7, a truss 54 extends between the matching legs 21 of spaced panels 16 and 17. A similar corresponding truss also extends between the matching legs 26) of the panels 16 and 17, but is hidden from view. One end of truss 54- is secured to the legs 20 and 21 of panel 16 by the usual connecting pin 24.

In the right hand scafiold tower of FIG. 7, a truss 55 extends between the matching legs 21 of spaced panels 16 and 17. Similarly, another corresponding truss extends between the matching legs Ztl of such panels, but is hidden from View. One end of truss 55 is secured to the legs 20 and 21 of panel 17 by the conventional connecting pin 24.

Another pair of trusses 56 extend between the scaffold towers 53 and are operatively interconnected to the trusses 54 and 55 by couplings 57, the detailed structure of such coupling 57 being best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The coupling 5'7 includes a plate 60 having a depending cylindrical bar 61 adapted to interfit the open top end of a tubular scafiold leg. A brace 62 is adapted to engage the outside of the tubular leg when the bar 61 is inserted to hold the plate 61 horizontal. Formed integrally and extending upwardly from the top surface of plate 60 are a pair of matching short cylindrical members 63, 64 adapted to interfit the openings 15 formed in the truss flanges 14.

In use, the cylindrical bar 61 is inserted into the tubular legs of panel 17 of the left hand scafiold tower of. FIG. 7. The other flange 14 of truss 54 is secured to the coupling 57 by inserting the flange opening 15 over the stub portion 63. Thus, the truss 54 is secured in place.

Similarly, couplings 57 are utilized to fasten the trusses 55 in place. The intermediate truss 56 is operatively connected to the trusses 54 and 55 by interfitting their end flanges 14 to theother stub members 64 of the couplings 57. Of course, if additional scaffold towers are utilized, the couplings 57 can be used in the manner described to connect any number of interconnecting trusses.

It is seen that the trusses 5456 inclusive form a continuous load bearing horizontal ledger member adapted to support a horizontal slab 65. A plurality of support beams 66 are extended across and seat on the trusses 545556, all of the load of the horizontal slab is transmitted directly to the supporting tubular legs of the scaffold towers by the trusses.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a preferred embodiment of the scaf fold-truss system, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many U variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a scatIold-truss system, a scaffold frame including spaced tubular legs and a spreader bar interconnecting said pair of legs, a truss extending between a pair of said spaced legs, a flange secured to each end of said truss, said flanges being supported on the top of said pair of legs, said truss being provided with a longitudinal bottom opening, the spreader bar interfitting said longitudinal bottom opening, each flange being provided with an opening communicating with the interior of its associated tubular leg, and means extending th ough said opening and into said leg to connect the truss to said leg, the truss being adapted to support a load and transmit the weight of such load directly to said legs.

2. In a scaffold-truss system, a scaffold frame including spaced tubular legs and a spreader bar interconnecting said pair of legs, a truss including a pair of U-shaped channels disposed in spaced back to back relation to provide a longitudinal slot therebetween, a flange interconnecting each end of said channels, the truss extending between a pair of said spaced legs, said flanges being supported on the top of said pair of legs, each flange being provided with an opening communicating with the interior of its associated tubular leg, and means extending through said opening and into said leg to connect the truss to said leg, said spreader bar being disposed within the longitudinal slot, the truss being adapted to support a load and transmit the weight of such load directly to said legs.

3. In a scaffold-truss system, a scaiiold frame including a pair of panels each of which having a pair of tubular legs interconnected by a top spreader bar, said panels being disposed in spaced parallel relation and interconnected by braces, a truss extending between the pair of legs of each panel, a flange secured to each end of said truss, said flanges being supported on the top of said pair of legs, each flange being provided with an opening communicating with the interior of its associated tubular leg, and means extending through said opening and into said leg to connect the truss to said leg, the truss being provided with a longitudinal bottom opening, the spreader bar interfitting said longitudinal bottom opening, said truss being adapted to support a load and transmit the weight of such load directly to said legs.

4. In a scaifold-truss system, a scaflold frame including a pair of panels each of which has a pair of tubular legs interconnected by a top spreader bar, said panels being disposed in spaced parallel relation and interconnected by crossed braces, a truss extending between the pair of legs of each panel, said truss including a pair of U-shaped channels disposed in spaced back to back relation to provide a longitudinal slot therebetween, a flange interconnecting each end of said channels, said flanges being supported on the top of said pair of legs, each flange being provided with an opening communicating with the interior of its associated tubular leg, and means extending through said opening and into said leg to connect the truss to said leg, said spreader bar being disposed in said longitudinal slot free from load-supporting contact with said truss, said truss being adapted to support a load and transmit the weight of such load directly to said legs.

5. In a scaffold-truss system, a scalfold frame including a pair of panels each of which having a pair of tubular legs interconnected by a top spreader bar, said panels being disposed in spaced parallel relation and interconnected by crossed braces, a truss extending between the pair of legs of each panel, each truss including a flange at opposite ends supported on the top of said pair of legs, each flange being provided with an opening communicating with the interior of its associated tubular leg, a jack extending through said opening and into said leg to connect the truss to said leg, said truss being provided with a longitudinal slot, and the spreader bar being disposed within said longitudinal slot and free from load 6 supporting contact with said truss, said truss being adapted to support a load and transmit the weight of such load directly to said legs.

6. In a scaffold-truss system, a scaffold frame including a pair of panels each of which has a pair of interconnected tubular legs, said panels being disposed in spaced parallel relation and interconnected by braces, a truss extending between a leg of one panel and a leg of the other panel, said truss being inverted on top of said legs and extending beyond one of said panels to provide a cantilever adapted to carry a spandrel beam load, said truss being provided with a longitudinal slot, a jack disposed in said slot, and a holder slidably mounting said jack on said truss for movement along said slot, said truss being adapted to support a load and transmit the weight of such load directly to said legs.

7. In a scaffold-truss system, a scafi old frame including a pair of panels each of which having a pair of interconnected tubular legs, said panels being disposed in spaced parallel relation and interconnected by braces, a truss extending between a leg of one panel and a leg of the other panel and extending beyond one of said panels to provide a cantilever adapted to carry a spandrel beam load, said truss including a pair of U-shaped channels disposed in spaced back to back relation to provide a longitudinal slot therebetween, a flange interconnecting each end of said channels at the top side of said channels, said truss being inverted on top of said legs, means detachably securing said truss to said legs, a jack disposed in said slot, and a holder slidably mounting said jack on said channels for movement along said slot, said truss being adapted to support a load and transmit the weight of such load directly to said legs.

8. In a scaffold-truss system, a pair of spaced scaffold towers, each tower including a pair of panels disposed in spaced parallel relation and interconnected by braces, each panel including a pair of spaced tubular legs, a truss extending between the pair of legs of said panels of each tower, each of the last said trusses including a flange at each end supported on the top of said pair of legs, each flange being provided with an opening cornmunicating with the interior of its associated tubular leg, 2. coupling including a bar extending into said leg and including a first member extending through the flange opening to connect the truss to said leg, said coupling including a second member oflset from said first member, another truss extending between said towers and having end flange openings receiving said second members of a pair of couplings, thereby interconnecting the said other trusses to provide a continuous load-bearing horizontal ledger member, said trusses being adapted to support a load and transmit the weight of such load directly to the legs of said towers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,719,528 Beckley July 2, 1929 1,790,135 Cuthbertson Ian. 27, 1931 2,244,931 Weber June 10, 1941 2,316,952 Halferty Apr. 20, 1943 2,353,072 Pitou July 4, 1944 2,616,651 Coffing Nov. 4, 1952 2,758,379 Senk Aug. 14, 1956 2,846,279 Esch Aug. 5, 1958 2,894,312 Jones et al. July 14, 1959 2,903,258 Iovanovich Sept. 8, 1959 2,909,253 Hinze Oct. 20, 1959 2,951,564 Meyer Sept. 6, 1960 2,963,257 Ferguson Dec. 6, 1960 2,966,228 Kow-alski Dec. 27, 1960 2,988,318 Ferguson June 13, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 778,393 Great Britain July 3, 1957 

1. IN A SCAFFOLD-TRUSS SYSTEM, A SCAFFOLD FRAME INCLUDING SPACED TUBULAR LEGS AND A SPREADER BAR INTERCONNECTING SAID PAIR OF LEGS, A TRUSS EXTENDING BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID SPACED LEGS, A FLANGE SECURED TO EACH END OF SAID TRUSS, SAID FLANGES BEING SUPPORTED ON THE TOP OF SAID PAIR OF LEGS, SAID FLANGES BEING PROVIDED WITH A LONGITUDINAL BOTTOM OPENING, THE SPREADER BAR INTERFITTING SAID LONGITUDINAL BOTTOM OPENING, EACH FLANGE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF ITS ASSOCIATED TUBULAR LEG, AND MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND INTO SAID LEG TO CONNECT THE TRUSS TO SAID LEG, THE TRUSS BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A LOAD AND TRANSMIT THE WEIGHT OF SUCH LOAD DIRECTLY TO SAID LEGS. 